Education

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WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior Member of the House Education and Labor Committee, introduced legislation this week to curb rising rates of workplace violence facing health care and social service employees such as nurses, physicians, emergency responders, medical assistants, and social workers. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1309) is co-sponsored by Congressman Robert C.

(Norwich, CT) - Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) announced that Groton Public Schools had been awarded a $750,000 grant as a Military-Connected Local Educational Agency by the Department of Defense (DOD). The grant funding will be used to increase Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) comprehension among GPS students.

"The Impact Aid Program represents our commitment to making sure the children of military service members and Native families are provided with a quality public education, while not forcing local communities to pay the bill. I would like to thank NAFIS for honoring me with this award, and I promise to remain a strong advocate of Impact Aid in Congress.”

“This bill is about preparing secondary and postsecondary students with the academic and technical skills that are required to be successful in the workforce at a critical time for our economy,” said Courtney. “All across the country there is an exciting and growing need for trade and technical skills to fill jobs that young people can build a career and life around.

“In a year that has been marked by GOP efforts to roll back federal programs designed to make college more affordable, I am pleased to join my colleagues in introducing our bill that would provide every student with the opportunity to earn a debt-free degree,” said Courtney.

Meredith Clermont-Ferrand is a professor at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic. Last spring, Meredith contacted my office seeking assistance with FedLoan Servicing, a private company that operates in partnership with the U.S. Dept. of Education. As a professor at ECSU, Meredith is eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program that is designed to reimburse college graduates for student loans if they pursue a career in public service. In addition to working in a public service career, graduates must first make a total of 120 on-time monthly loan payments before qualifying for the PSLF program.

“Moments ago, I called on Sec. Betsy DeVos to account for misleading comments she made about East Hartford High School a year ago and her refusal to respond to Connecticut officials and students who politely challenged her facts. During her 2017 testimony before the House Appropriations Committee, Sec. DeVos stated that she had heard from a former student, who attended the school 17 years ago, that East Hartford High is ‘nothing more than adult daycare … a dangerous daycare.’"

Washington – The U.S. Department of Education has come to the aid of hundreds of Ridley-Lowell Business & Technical Institute students whose education came to an abrupt end last week when the school shut down without warning.

“The sudden and stunning decision by Ridley-Lowell Business & Technical Institute to close its campuses last week left Connecticut students with nowhere to turn. That is why I called on the Department to act quickly to provide information and resources for students,” said Courtney.

“The sudden and stunning decision by Ridley-Lowell Business & Technical Institute to cease operations with no notice to students or staff screams out for action by the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs,” said Courtney. “Many of the students used federal student loans and grant programs to pay tuition, and it is imperative that the Dept. of Ed exercises its statutory authority to protect both taxpayers and the students who put their faith in this school’s promise of a certificate that would provide gainful employment."